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College of Humanities and Social Sciences 
Department of World Languages and Cultures

Spanish Certifications

A certificate supplements your education. It sets you apart from the competition. NC State is one of the only universities that has consistently offered certifications for nearly two decades, thanks to a longstanding partnership with Cámara de Comercio de Madrid (Madrid’s Chamber of Commerce) and the Universidad Alcalá de Henares.

The certificates are not only available to NC State students, they’re offered to the whole community. So you can earn a certificate before graduation – or after you’ve worked for a while and want to re-energize your career.

Certificate Options

  • Health Sciences – students interested in pursuing a career in the medical field become even more marketable if they’re fluent in Spanish.
  • Spanish Business – business minors and majors expand their career horizons by receiving a world-renowned certificate.
  • Spanish Tourism – parks and recreation majors practically have the world at their fingertips if they speak Spanish and understand other cultures.

Getting Started

Once you’ve decided to pursue a certificate, you’ll need to take the following steps:

  • Take note of deadlines and register on time. You must register in advance of the exam.
  • Pay a registration fee. The certification costs approximately $200, but this amount can change due to European conversion rates.
  • You’ll also need a copy of your ID. Show up at the correct time and place to take the exam. The certificate is offered twice a year, typically in April and November.

Available Resources

From start to finish, you’ll have plenty of help when it comes to earning a certificate. Ana Gray, the NC State faculty director for the Spanish certificates, is a dedicated liaison who can answer your questions, help you register for the course, and point you in the right direction when it’s time to start preparing.

You’ll also have access to a special reserve section of reference materials at NC State’s library as well as sample practice exams to get you comfortable with the test-taking process. For more information on earning a certificate, please contact Ana Gray.

Email certificate director

Testimonials

Growing up speaking Spanish as a primary language, I still had not had much exposure to the specific differences between daily and business Spanish. The business certificate program at NC State in partnership with the Cámara de Madrid gave me the tools I needed to manage bilingual teams.

After taking the exam, my ability to use professional Spanish helped me lead the development of training and development for the hiring of Spanish-speaking associates at my site. In turn, that has allowed me to earn the trust of Spanish-speaking associates in my organization. Moreover, I have been able to network more effectively with my peers in Spain and Latin America, preparing me to lead in an increasingly intercultural world.

I decided to become certified by the Madrid Chamber of Commerce Spanish Business certificate because I wanted to show prospective employers that I can use Spanish in the workforce. My certification proves that my Spanish skills will be an asset to any company.

When studying for the exam, I was surprised to see how much my Spanish improved during the process. Prof. Gray was also extremely helpful when I had questions; I was always welcome to her office hours anytime. Overall, I am very pleased that I made the effort to become Spanish Business Certified.

This past semester I took one of NCSU’s Madrid Chamber of Commerce certification exams. I took the Superior Certificate Exam for Health Sciences and it was an amazing experience. Prof. Gray is a great contact and the exam (very prestigious) is not only a great learning experience but also a great resume builder.

For me, the health sciences exam is a way of demonstrating my knowledge of not only Spanish, but also my past experiences as a Pre-Med student! As a graduate student, I am glad to have something on my resume demonstrating both my history in sciences and my fluency in the Spanish language.

I highly recommend this experience to anyone who wants to demonstrate their Spanish proficiency in a certain domain. The registration process is simple, and the available study materials are comprehensive! Best of luck!